At least 60 dead, hundreds hurt in Baghdad bomb blasts

At least 60 people died and hundreds were injured in a series of co-ordinated bomb attacks on the Iraqi capital Baghdad today.

The bombs began to explode mid-morning, striking first near the finance ministry in northern Baghdad and then minutes later near the foreign ministry next to the heavily fortified Green Zone.

The deadliest was a car bomb near the foreign ministry, which killed dozens and wounded hundreds. Officials said the toll was expected to climb.

They said five other explosions, mostly from car bombs, tore through Baghdad, killing at least eight people and wounding dozens more.